Loader Stump Yard Wars

[k0ua]

If you have electricity at the tree (sawzall), you probably also have water. Then, if you have a pressure washer, you can get down in there and weaken the lifelong relationship between the roots and the soil.

When my chainsaw guys says "this is the last time I can sharpen this one" it gets assigned to Root Detail.

Hey now that's an idea, the pressure washer, I may give that a try, this weekend, I did hose off the roots some in an effort to see them better, and loosen things up, some of the larger roots had a large rock shelf under them..But all in all it is just a matter of time and effort, the stump is coming out, it just doesn't know it yet

James K0UA

 

[J_J]

You should have soaked it for 24 hrs, and then cut the roots with something like this.

It can cut in any direction.

 

[PapaPerk]

two words. stump grinder!

 

[Redbug]

The problem with a regular bucket is that it is too wide and you don't get enough force in a small enough area. A stump bucket is good at chewing into some of those roots and getting under the stump edge. Another way to get the tree down is to put a cable in the upper third of the tree and pull it over. Climbing a ladder in a tree is risky in my opinion to place the cable. Tree spikes are safer or a climbing deer stand.

 

[Chilly807]

What I've done in the past is to dig around as much as I can, then keep sawing away at it with an old bar and chain. Once you have it below ground level, cover it with landscape fabric to keep the suckers from coming back, and a layer of topsoil. Softwood trees aren't as bad as hardwood for regenerating.

Usually three or four sharpenings are enough to get through the average stump. I like the pressure washer idea to get some of the grit off the roots, but I think it would create a "stump in a pond" problem as a side effect.

Even a small backhoe won't get these out as fast as some of us would like, you've got to whittle away at the roots gradually. When you consider the work an excavator will do, they have a tough time with stumps too in some cases.

In the old days we'd pour a couple gallons of diesel/gas mix into the soil under it and light 'er up. Not the most ecologically responsible way to do things.

Sean

 

[jinman]

James, another tool that can come in really handy is a regular 1/2" drill and a large 3/8" to 1/2" drill bit. Make a series of holes in the exposed root around the perimeter like a woodpecker makes around the trunk of a tree, but drill up to the full depth of the drill shank. The drill will go into that soft root quite easily; just keep it well lubed. After you've weakened all the roots with the drill and reciprocating saw, you should easily be able to pop that stump out with all the trunk you have left for leverage.

 

[k0ua]

James, another tool that can come in really handy is a regular 1/2" drill and a large 3/8" to 1/2" drill bit. Make a series of holes in the exposed root around the perimeter like a woodpecker makes around the trunk of a tree, but drill up to the full depth of the drill shank. The drill will go into that soft root quite easily; just keep it well lubed. After you've weakened all the roots with the drill and reciprocating saw, you should easily be able to pop that stump out with all the trunk you have left for leverage.

Sounds like another good idea, it is raining now, and supposed to some this weekend, maybe get to it sunday afternoon,

James K0UA

 

[k0ua]

It has rained all day today, (Lord knows we needed it) so no work today (Saturday). Looks like the stump lives for a while longer

James K0UA

 

[SandburRanch]

After you get it out you can make something memorable from it. I was into making scotch tape dispensers to give away about the time I removed this oak. There is often an area of stump wood that has a unique pattern and out of that area within the square popped a dispenser.



Or you may be so aggravated you never want to see any of it except in the fire.:laughing:

 

[CompactTractorFan]

If you need to weaken it by cutting some of the roots, I recommend using a sawzall with a pruning, or wood cutting blade.

That's what I used for the big stump I removed...

 

[kaferhaus]

Remember the "good ol days' when you could run down to the hardware or feed store and buy a case of dynomite?

Now a days I rarely have to fool with a stump, rent a excavator when I do.

The sight of those stumps flying through the air and across the field is forever burned into my memory.

 

[bcp]

The sight of those stumps flying through the air and across the field is forever burned into my memory.

When I bought this place about 30 years ago, one neighbor said that years ago another one dynamited a stump which went through my roof! That would have been around 150 feet or more away.

Bruce

 

[k0ua]

Ok, results were a little different today, I did try jinmans idea of the Carbide drill bit, and I did sever all of the visible roots. (but there were plenty more that were not visible.) I tried to pull again after all the visible roots were cut, and it never budged. So put the home-made bucket shovel back on, and had at it digging for a least 2 or 3 hours non-stop. I kept on digging and popping out roots and rocks so deep the shovel was buried, and the Regular FEL bucket was digging up dirt several inches deep too as I run out of reach on the 18 inch shovel. (bet a shovel for forks would be better as you would not have that problem). Anyway after digging to China, I tried the pull going East again, it never budged. So I move the tractor and went South, This time the huge rock on the West side popped and actually split the rock, The stump started to lean, So I grabbed the camera and the Wife, and the rest is history. I could not have done without my little bucket shovel, It would have defeated me again, but it is just a memory now:thumbsup:

James K0UA

 

[jinman]

Persistence pays off!:thumbsup: Way to go, James.

 

[k0ua]

Yeah I didn't want to get "skunked" again, so I stayed at it. By the way the little shovel was invaluable for cleaning off the the embedded rocks in the root-ball, it made short work of that chore. I am going to have to invest in a bigger/better chainsaw than my little 14 inch Mac. I had to cut half way through on one side and then cut from the other side. Of course the little saw is just a "limbing" saw.

James K0UA

 

[MossflowerWoods]

WELL DONE James!

Make the Victory picture your avatar for a while is my idea!

Call it a victory lap!

Be well!

David

 

[k0ua]

WELL DONE James!

Make the Victory picture your avatar for a while is my idea!

Call it a victory lap!

Be well!

David

OK, done, but the pix looks like it needs to be bigger. I will look into that

James K0UA


I cropped the pix to make is square, that looks a little better

 

[MossflowerWoods]

OK, done, but the pix looks like it needs to be bigger. I will look into that

James K0UA


I cropped the pix to make is square, that looks a little better

I LIKE IT!!!

:thumbsup:Woo Hoo:thumbsup:
David

 

[Chilly807]

Yeah I didn't want to get "skunked" again, so I stayed at it. By the way the little shovel was invaluable for cleaning off the the embedded rocks in the root-ball, it made short work of that chore. I am going to have to invest in a bigger/better chainsaw than my little 14 inch Mac. I had to cut half way through on one side and then cut from the other side. Of course the little saw is just a "limbing" saw.

James K0UA

I think we should invest in a backhoe, and have a yearly time share.. then again, the cost of shipping between Missouri and Nova Scotia is gonna be a killer.

We've been discussing a log winch lately, and a backhoe down the road. Both are something we need to do, although it's often cheaper to get a backhoe or excavator in to do a few hours work.

I've not tackled any big stumps with any success, our property doesn't have any that we need to get rid of anytime soon.

Sean

 

[k0ua]

I think we should invest in a backhoe, and have a yearly time share.. then again, the cost of shipping between Missouri and Nova Scotia is gonna be a killer.

We've been discussing a log winch lately, and a backhoe down the road. Both are something we need to do, although it's often cheaper to get a backhoe or excavator in to do a few hours work.

I've not tackled any big stumps with any success, our property doesn't have any that we need to get rid of anytime soon.

Sean

Well Sean the little shovel thing works, It ain't no backhoe, but it will dig, and will bust up roots and pop out rocks. And running a joystick is a lot easier than running a bar, and hickory handled shovel:laughing:. As for the backhoe time share, well if you were next door, I would seriously consider it. We could both get subframes installed, and it might not be a bad idea at all. I just don't have enough use for a backhoe to justify the expense, but yesterday it was looking awful good.

James K0UA